Image sensor apparatus with small convex portions

Abstract

In an image sensor apparatus, a light emitting section is composed of a plurality of light emitting elements provided in a longitudinal direction of said image sensor apparatus. An optical section has an uneven structure, and changes the direction of light such that the light emerges from the optical section in a substantially parallel manner and converges to a linear region along the longitudinal direction. Here, the uneven structure includes a plurality of convex or concave portions, and a length of each of the plurality of convex or concave portions of the uneven structure in the longitudinal direction is smaller than a separation between adjacent two of the plurality of light emitting elements. An image sensor section transmits the converged light to a manuscript and for sensing a light reflected from the manuscript.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An image sensor apparatus comprising: a light emitting section composed of a plurality of light emitting elements provided in a longitudinal direction of said image sensor apparatus;   optical means having an uneven structure, for changing the direction of light such that the light emerges from said optical means in a substantially parallel manner and converges to a linear region along said longitudinal direction, wherein said uneven structure including a plurality of convex or concave portions, a length of each of the plurality of convex or concave portions of said uneven structure in the longitudinal direction is smaller than a separation between adjacent two of said plurality of light emitting elements; and   an image sensor section for transmitting the converged light to a manuscript and for sensing a light reflected from the manuscript.   
     
     
       2. An image sensor apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said optical means includes: a cylindrical lens having a length corresponding to said light emitting section in the longitudinal direction, for converging the light, emitted from said plurality of light emitting elements, in the linear manner; and   a lens sheet having said uneven structure, for directing the converged light to the manuscript.   
     
     
       3. An image sensor apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said uneven structure includes a plurality of uneven sections each of which is composed of said plurality of convex or concave portions, and each of said plurality of uneven sections is provided in a region corresponding to a region between every adjacent two of said plurality of light emitting elements. 
     
     
       4. An image sensor apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said uneven structure is said plurality of convex or concave portions which are continuously provided in the longitudinal direction for a length corresponding to said light emitting section. 
     
     
       5. An image sensor apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said optical means includes: a sheet lens having said uneven structure, for directing the light emitted from said plurality of light emitting elements to the manuscript; and   a cylindrical lens having a length corresponding to said light emitting section in the longitudinal direction, for converging the directed light in the linear manner.   
     
     
       6. An image sensor apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said uneven structure includes a plurality of uneven sections each of which is composed of said plurality of convex or concave portions, and each of said plurality of uneven sections is provided in a region corresponding to a region between every adjacent two of said plurality of light emitting elements. 
     
     
       7. An image sensor apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said uneven structure includes said plurality of convex or concave portions which are continuously provided in the longitudinal direction for a length corresponding to said light emitting section. 
     
     
       8. An image sensor apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said optical means includes: a cylindrical lens having said uneven structure and having a length corresponding to said light emitting section in the longitudinal direction.   
     
     
       9. An image sensor apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said uneven structure includes a plurality of uneven sections each of which is composed of said plurality of convex or concave portions, and each of said plurality of uneven sections is provided in a region corresponding to a region between every adjacent two of said plurality of light emitting elements. 
     
     
       10. An image sensor apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said uneven structure includes said plurality of convex or concave portions which are continuously provided in the longitudinal direction for a length corresponding to said light emitting section. 
     
     
       11. An image sensor apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of convex or concave portions includes: a plurality of subsets, each said subset including said plurality of convex or concave portions and each said subset corresponding to an associated one of said light emitting elements.   
     
     
       12. An image sensor apparatus comprising: a light emitting section composed of a plurality of light emitting elements provided in a longitudinal direction;   a cylindrical lens for converging light emitted from said plurality of light emitting elements, in a linear manner in a longitudinal direction;   a lens sheet having an uneven structure, for directing the converged light to a manuscript, wherein said uneven structure is composed of a plurality of convex or concave portions, and a length of each of said plurality of convex or concave portions of said uneven structure in the longitudinal direction is smaller than a separation between adjacent two of said plurality of light emitting elements; and   an image sensor section for transmitting the converged light from said lens sheets to the manuscript and for sensing a light reflected from the manuscript.   
     
     
       13. An image sensor apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said uneven structure includes a plurality of uneven sections each of which is composed of said plurality of convex or concave portions, and each of said plurality of uneven sections is provided in a region corresponding to a region between every adjacent two of said plurality of light emitting elements. 
     
     
       14. An image sensor apparatus according to claim 12, wherein each of said plurality of uneven sections includes said plurality of convex or concave portions continuously provided In the longitudinal direction for a length corresponding to said light emitting section. 
     
     
       15. An image sensor apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said uneven structure is provided on a side of said light emitting section. 
     
     
       16. An image sensor apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said uneven structure is provided on a side of the manuscript. 
     
     
       17. An image sensor apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said plurality of convex or concave portions includes: a plurality of subsets, each said subset including said plurality of convex or concave portions and each said subset corresponding to an associated one of said light emitting elements.   
     
     
       18. An image sensor apparatus comprising: a light emitting section composed of a plurality of light emitting elements provided in a longitudinal direction;   a lens sheet having an uneven structure, for directing to a manuscript the light emitted from said plurality of light emitting elements, wherein said uneven structure includes a plurality of convex or concave portions, and a length of each of said plurality of convex or concave portions of said uneven structure in the longitudinal direction is smaller than a separation between adjacent two of said plurality of light emitting elements;   light converging means for converging the directed light in a linear manner in the longitudinal direction; and   an image sensor section for transmitting the converged light to the manuscript and for sensing a light reflected from the manuscript.   
     
     
       19. An image sensor apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said uneven structure includes a plurality of uneven sections each of which is composed of said plurality of convex or concave portions, and each of said plurality of uneven sections is provided in a region corresponding to a region between every adjacent two of said plurality of light emitting elements. 
     
     
       20. An image sensor apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said uneven structure includes said plurality of convex or concave portions which are continuously provided in the longitudinal direction for a length corresponding to said light emitting section. 
     
     
       21. An image sensor apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said uneven structure is provided on a side of said light emitting section. 
     
     
       22. An image sensor apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said uneven structure is provided on a side of the manuscript. 
     
     
       23. An image sensor apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said plurality of convex or concave portions includes: a plurality of subsets, each said subset including said plurality of convex or concave portions and each said subset corresponding to an associated one of said light emitting elements.